Dúnchad mac Cinn Fáelad

Dúnchad mac Cinn Fáelad (also called Dunichad, Duncad, and Donatus) (died 717) was the eleventh abbot of Iona (707–717). He was the son of Cenn Fáelad, and grandson of Máel Coba, of the Cenél Conaill. While most early abbots of Iona were members of Cenél Conaill they came from minor branches of the kindred, but Dúnchad came from the ruling line, grandson of one High King of Ireland and the nephew of two others, Cellach and Conall.

He is first heard of as Abbot of Killochuir on the coast of southeastern Ulster (perhaps Killough, County Down). He later become Abbot of Iona, although there is considerable dispute about this matter. The Annals of Ulster first mention him in that capacity in the year 706; but Conamail of Iona is said to have been the abbot of Iona from 704 through 710. It is possible that Dunchad served as a coadjutor (or principatum tenuit) of Conamail of Iona. He himself may have been elected in opposition to Abbot Conamail, while Dorbbéne in 713 and Fáelchú in 716 may have been elected to oppose Dúnchad It has also been suggested that he may have been elected in a power-struggle between factions of monks at Iona at the time who disagreed about the dating of Easter and the use of the tonsure. It has also been suggested that at least some of these people may have coadjustors, priors, or possibly even bishops at Iona at the time. The final agreement about the dating of Easter on Iona took place at the instance of St. Ecgberht of Northumbria, a priest who had been educated in Ireland, who was successful in persuading the community to abandon the Celtic Easter and tonsure.

When Dúnchad died in 717, Fáelchú continued in his position. In the same year of Dúnchad's death, King Nechtan mac Derile, the Gaelic ruler of the Picts, allegedly expelled the Ionan clergy from Pictland.

His feast day is 25 May.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Dunchadh". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Bibliography

• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Dunchadh" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Sharpe, Richard, Adomnán of Iona: Life of St. Columba, (London, 1995)
• John T. Koch. Celtic culture: a historical encyclopedia.